New Centre of Excellence to understand how the human brain interacts with the world
The Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, today opened a new $20 million research centre designed to tackle one of the greatest scientific challenges of the 21st century, understanding the human brain.
The ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function led by Monash University Professor Gary Egan will combine techniques for analysing brain anatomy, physiology and function, with advanced computational techniques, to uncover the fundamental principles of brain function. Professor Egan said research at the centre was focussed on how brain activity underlies attention, prediction, and decision-making in everyday human behaviour.
“The Centre will train future research leaders in multi-disciplinary approaches to brain research, that includes neuroscience, psychology, network science, and engineering,” Professor Egan said.
“We will also engage with the international neuroscience initiatives in Europe and the United States, and communicate the ethical, social and economic impact of brain research to the wider community.”
Monash University Vice-Provost (Research), Professor Pauline Nestor said the support from the Australian Research Council through the Centres of Excellence program was vital in providing both sufficient resources to assemble an outstanding team and the extended time frame necessary for such complex research.
“This Centre will help unite researchers from a number of institutions, across a number of fields, and draw on the University’s strengths in medicine and health sciences, engineering and neurotechnologies,” Professor Nestor said.
Collaborating organisations of the Centre include Monash University, The University of Queensland, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Australian National University and the University of New South Wales. The Minister for Education, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP, approved funding over seven years for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function last year. The Centre will also collaborate with 12 international partner organisations from six different countries, and has received more than $30 million cash and in-kind support from the participating organisations.
In conjunction with the official launch, the Centre is also launching a public outreach program called The Brain Dialogue. The first event will be a panel discussion on the question: “Who’s in charge: you or your brain?”
This free event will be held at the State Library of Victoria from 5.00-7.30pm on Wednesday 20 August. Registration for the event can be made at: www.cibf.edu.au/events/2014/7/15/neuroscience-panel-and-drinks-whos-in-charge-you-or-your-brain